The International Organization for Migrants (IOM) based in Geneva said 41 migrants were feared drowned in a new Mediterranean shipwreck, citing survivors picked by the Italian navy vessel "Foscari."

Two Nigerians, a Ghanaian, and one Nigerien were found floating in the sea by a helicopter and were rescued by Italian navy and coast guards. They have arrived in Trapani, a port in Sicily on Thursday together with 600 other migrants.

Four survivors told Italian police that their inflatable vessel carrying 45 people sank on the crossing from Libya.

According to the IOM aid agency, the ship had left Tripoli in Libya on Saturday and stayed adrift for four days.

Roughly 10,000 people have been rescued trying to reach the Italian coast in recent days.

Italy pleaded for more help to rescue migrants also demanding a "clear answer" from the European Union about where the refugees should be accommodated.

But the European Commission said on Thursday that it doesn't have funds or political support to launch search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea.

Earlier on Thursday, Italian police confirmed they had arrested 15 African Muslim migrants after witnesses said they had thrown 12 Christian passengers overboard following a brawl on a boat heading to the Italian cost.

jil/msh (AP, AFP)